Interchangeable partition



July 10, 1934. E, E KOENIG 1,965,597

INTERCHANGEABLE PARTITION Filed Feb. 8, 1952 3 11 INVENTOB I 47 Elm Edward 210mg ATTORNEY Patented July 10, 1934 UNITED STATES 1,965,597 INTERCHANGEABLE PARTITION.

Elmer Edward Koenig, GarfildHeights Ohio, as-

slgnor to The Mills Company, Cleveland, Ohio,

a corporation of Ohio Application February 8,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to interchangeable partitions of the knockdown type. To obtain a partition possessing the desired qualities of full interchangeability, movability and adjustability,

the partition framing members must be so made as to permit them to be readily connected and disconnected. The securing means used for retaining the frame structure assembled should preferably be concealed from view when the partition is fully erected and yetaccessible when the partition is to be taken down or readjusted. It is also essential that all frame parts be held firmly and securely together so that they will not shift or Warp out of place either during or after complete erection. Framing parts which are so constructed as to permit the rapid erection and attachment thereof without noise is also highly desirable. It often happens also that a slight miscalculation in measurement, a mistake in cutting, or last minute (changes in plans after the units have been shipped may require changes in the dimensions of the units. Unless the units canbe cut down in the field when necessity arises, much delay, annoyance and expense is encountered before a proper- 5 1y fitting unit can be obtained and put in place.

An object of my invention is to provide an interc'hangeable partition having framing units which can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled without damage, waste of material, or the necessity of blows, pounding or noise.

Another object of my invention is to provide a partition unit comprising horizontal and vertical framing members which are pre-formed at the plant but may be cut down in the field if the necessity arises, which are provided with adjustable securing means entirely concealed when the partition is erected, and which'firmly hold the parts against movement, the whole being simple and economical to manufacture and at- 0 tractive in design.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following particular description and from an inspection of the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a face view of my framing unit comprising horizontal and vertical members, parts being broken away to more clearly show certain features of the interior construction;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal View, through the partition unit, showing one arrangement for adjustably securing the horizontal rail and uprights in assembled position, this view being taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view through 1932. SerialNo. 591,672

the horizontahmember, taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal View through the partition unit showing a modified arrangement for adjustably securing the horizontal uprights together;

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the horizontal rail member shown in Fig; 4, this view being taken on line 55 of Fig. 4; V

Fig. 6 is'a fragmentary end view of the horizontal rail member showing particularly the'securing tab which may also be used; and

Fig. '7 is a cross sectional view of a horizontal rail member and rail member of'slightly modified construction to provide for panel removability. 7 Like characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawing. p V

The partition framing herein disclosed com-q prises generally a pairof spaced uprights '10 and 11 connected together into a framing unit by the horizontal rail member 12. As shown more particularly in Fig. 3, the horizontal rail member comprises sideface portions 13 and 14, and a groove recess 15 to receive the partition panel 19.

The rail member may be formed from asingle piece of sheet metalwith the ends 16 and l'l welded together to form an integral piece. The partition panel '20 seats within the grooved recess 15 and covers the welded joint. The corners 18 of the rail member may be formed into an artistic design.

A pair of stud elements 22 project from'each end of the rail members 12 and maybe secured by welding or rivets 23 to either the exterior or interior faces of the recesses 15, as shown more particularly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Each stud element 22 is threaded at its outer end 24 and extends through an aperture out in the bottom of the panel receiving groove 21 of each upright. -"f

By manipulating a nut 25 which engages the threaded portion 24 of each stud element, the uprights 10 and 11 can be drawn tothe rail member 12 to adjustably and firmly secure the "same in assembled position. Since the studielements 22 are fixed to the rail members, no opportunity of the parts to shift or become misadjustedor out of alignment is presented.

I have shown'inFigs. 4 and 5 a modified arrangement for adjustably securing the rail and upright members together. A stud element 26 of considerable length is secured at its innerend portion 27 to either the. inner or outer faces of the panel receiving groove 15, as'clearly shown in Figure 4. The outer end of stud element 26 is formed into a hook 28 which extends beyond the end of the rail member and is adapted to hook into an aperture provided in the panel receiving groove 21 of the uprights 10 or 11. The hook may be bent either before or after the insertion of the stud elements through the apertures provided in the uprights. A complementary hooked stud element may also be secured to the inner or outer faces of the panel receiving groove 17 of the rail member. The other end of the rail member 12 is provided with one or two of the usual stud elements 22 having adjusting nuts 25 on their ends.

Now it will be noticed that hooked stud element 26 is attached to the said member only at its inner end, presenting a considerable outer portion not attached to the rail member. Should it become necessary to shorten the rail member 12 in the field, the hooked end portion could be sawed off the necessary amount, and the hooked portion 28 of the stud element 26 rebent and reformed to securely hook the rail member to the upright. The uprights 10 and 11 and rail member 12 can then be drawn together by manipulating the adjusting nut or nuts 25 at the other end.

To secure the rail member 12 to the uprights 10 and 11, struck out tabs or ear portions 30 may be provided which may be either used alone as the sole securing means, or in connection with the hooked or threaded stud elements heretofore described. My modified rail member is formed from a one-piece sheet of metal and comprises face portions 31 and 32. A recess 33 is provided to receive the edge of the upper panel 19 and recess 34 is shaped to receive the edge of the lower panel 20. The corners of the rail member may I be formed as at 35 in a variety of artistic designs.

These tabs 30 may be stamped integral with the said member to project from one or both ends of the side faces 13 and 14, as shown more particularly in Fig. 6. The tabs 30 extend through suitable vertical slots cut in the uprights 10 and 11. By over-turning the tabs 30 against the inside of the uprights it is seen that the rail member 12 is locked to the uprights and fixed against lateral shifting.

It is often convenient to pass electrical wiring such as buzz and telephone wires or conduits through the rail and upright members. In order that this may be accomplished, I have cut an opening 131 in the uprights 10 and 11 at the point where the rail member joins the upright.

The necessary wiring can then be easily run through the rail member and into the uprights.

through these holes.

I have shown in Figure '7 a rail member modified in construction to permit the ready insertion and replacement of panels, as desired- This rail member is formed from a one piece blank bent to form side face portions 40 and 41, and a panel receiving groove 42 defined by the shoulder portions 43. The ends 44 of the'blank meet at the bottom of the groove 42, are inturned and welded together. The opposite edge of the rail member is provided with a panel seat portion 45 and a shoulder portion 46 against which A deep recess 47 is formed by a sharp rebend in the blank material, this recess being spaced apart from and running parallel with the shoulder portion 46. A moulding'strip 48 having a leg portion 49 which seats within the recess 47 forms the complementary shoulder to shoulder portion 46. The moulding strip 48 can be removed and replaced at will to removably retain the panel member 50 in place.

It is now seen that I have provided a partition having interchangeable sections held together by removable spacers 60, clip members 61, and adjustable bolts 62. The sectional units comprising uprights l0 and 11 and rail members 12 are adjustably attached for assembly and disassembly. The uprights l0 and 11, the panels 19 and 20 and the rail members 12 can all be cut down in the field if necessary to accommodate field conditions without marring or weakening the partition as a whole. Full interchangeability and flexibility is realized. Furthermore, all securing parts are hidden within the partition and no screws, bolts, nuts or welding parts are visible to mar the appearance of the assembled partition.

Noise need not be caused by the erection or disassembly of my partition since all parts are securely fastened together in the field by the simple manipulation of concealed bolts, nuts and hooks. The partition generally is economical to produce, sturdy in construction and pleasing in appearance.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the 1 annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: 1

spaced vertical uprights, a frame member extending therebetween, and means for adjustably securing said frame member to said vertical uprights, said means comprising a stud element secured to each end of said frame member each projecting through an aperture provided in the wall of the adjacent upright, one of said studs being provided with a hook portion adapted to removably engage the adjacent upright, and the other stud element being provided withan adjustable tightening means for drawing said uprights and frame member together in sturdy assembled relationship.

2. In partition framing, the combination of 1 spaced vertical uprights, a frame member extending therebetween, and means for adjustably securing said frame member to said vertical uprights, said means including a stud element having a hook portion projecting beyond the end of rights, said means including a stud element having a hook portion projecting beyond the end of the frame member and adapted to engage one of said uprights, said stud element being secured to said frame member at a number of points so 1 that the frame member can be cut off at the hooked end and the hook portion reformed in the field to accommodate field conditions, and a stud element secured to the other end of said frame member and projecting into an aperture provided in the adjacent upright, and means on the end of said stud element last mentioned fordrawing said uprights and frame member together in sturdy assembled relationship.

4. In partition framing, the combination of a I.

D5 1. In partition framing, the combination of 1 the frame member and adapted .to engage one pair of spaced vertical uprights, a hollow frame member extending therebetween, and means for adjustably and removably securing said frame member to said uprights, said means including a pair of stud elements each having a hook portion projecting beyond one end of the frame member and through apertures provided in the adjacent upright, said stud elements being secured to said frame member at a point spaced from the end thereof so that the frame member can be cut off at the hooked end thereof and the hook portion reformed in the field to accommodate field erection conditions.

5. In partition framing, the combination of a pair of spaced vertical uprights, a hollow frame member extending therebetween, and means for adjustably and removably securing said frame member to said uprights, said means including a pair of stud elements each having a hook portion projecting beyond one end of the frame member and through apertures provided in the adjacent upright, said stud elements being secured to said frame member at a point spaced from the end thereof so that the frame member can be cut off at the hooked end thereof and the hook portion reformed in the field to accommodate field erection conditions, and a pair of stud elements secured to the other end of the frame member and projecting through apertures provided in the adjacent upright, and adjustable means on the free side of each of said stud elements last mentioned for drawing said uprights and frame member together in sturdy assembled relationship.

6. In partition framing, the combination of spaced vertical uprights, a frame member extending therebetween, and means for adjustably securing said frame member to said vertical uprights, said means including an ear portion at one end of said frame member projecting through an aperture provided in the adjacent upright and bent over, and a stud element secured to the other end of said frame member and projecting through an aperture provided in the adjacent upright, and adjustable means on the end of said stud element for drawing said uprights and frame member together in sturdy assembled relationship.

7. A frame member formed of hollow sheet metal comprising a hollow piece having a face portion, a panel receiving groove along one edge thereof, abutment portions on each side of said groove, a panel receiving groove along the opposite edge having a fixed abutment portion along one side of said groove only, and a removable moulding strip adapted to form the companion abutment, said removable moulding having a leg portion adapted to seat within a groove provided in said hollow piece to removably retain the moulding in panel abutting position.

ELMER EDWARD KOENIG. 

